CLIMATE activists have gathered at Glasgow Green this afternoon. 

Members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) Faith, pilgrimage groups, and artists joined at the McLennan Arch in the East End at around 2pm.

The event is said to be an "opening ceremony" ahead of a series of non-violent actions scheduled to take place during COP26.

Demonstrators turned out to raise awareness of the climate crisis with pilgrimage groups from locations including London and Sweden walking thousands of miles to Glasgow.

Glasgow Times:

Those arriving in the city include Marcha Glasgow, Camino to COP26, Young Christian Climate Network activists, Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice and Pilgrimage for COP26.

Marchers set off from Glasgow Green heading towards the city centre amid a heavy police presence. 

Glasgow Times:

A police helicopter was also spotted hovering above the East End park.

Glasgow Times:

XR Scotland's 'Blue Rebels' formed a guard of honour for the pilgrims.

Glasgow Times:

Activists travelled to Glasgow this weekend to make their climate change concerns known to the world leaders who will be around the negotiating table.

Alex Cochrane, of XR Glasgow, said: "We welcome the pilgrims of faith – and no faith – who are walking to COP26 to demand governments also walk the walk for the global south."

Yaz Ashmawi, of XR Pilgrim, said: "Countries around the world are already suffering the consequences of our historic emissions in the west, and small island states like the Maldives will be submerged by rising seas if no immediate action is taken on the climate.

"As people of faith we have a spiritual duty of care to those who are less fortunate than us, so we have been using this walk to raise money for activists in financially disadvantaged countries that are already impacted, to empower them to join this conversation themselves."

Glasgow Times:

Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, Scotland’s most senior police officer, said his force will respond "swiftly and robustly" to protesters who try to disrupt the summit.

He said the force – together with 7,000 officers from other parts of the UK who have been deployed to Scotland to help police COP26 – was "ready for the challenges that lie ahead".

During the conference which will run from October 31 - November 12, more than 100 world leaders and thousands of delegates will descend on the city's streets.

All eyes will be on Glasgow as the heads of state discuss their approach to tackling climate change and make renewed commitments to implementing change.